If you’re a Mac user, like most of us at the Security7 office are, you’re already using USB-C in some form. It was a tough switch. There were…dongles. Lots and lots of dongles.
Dongles for literally everything!
Slowly but surely the new USB-C standard has been catching on (which is a good thing) and it looks like its about to get better.
The USB-IF (USB Implementers Forum) has announced a new optional cryptographic standard that sounds fairly promising:
USB Type-C Authentication empowers host systems to protect against non-compliant USB chargers and to mitigate risks from malicious firmware/hardware in USB devices attempting to exploit a USB connection. Using this protocol, host systems can confirm the authenticity of a USB device, USB cable or USB charger, including such product aspects as the capabilities and certification status. All of this happens right at the moment a connection is made – before inappropriate power or data can be transferred.
You can read more about the standard at the link below and we suggest you do. The ability to authenticate only known USB devices sounds pretty nifty to us and it might sound that way to you too.
Learn more here: https://usb.org/sites/default/files/article_files/USB_Type-C_Authentication_PR_FINAL.pdf
